Global Youth Day and Outreach Sabbath

CHURCH NEWS

On Saturday, March 18, the Red Deer Church and Epic Church both closed their doors for the Divine Service and sent members to the four corners of the city to serve because “Love is a Verb.” Global Youth Day is an initiative designed to facilitate outreach opportunities and build local relationships modeled after Jesus’ ministry in meeting people’s needs, gaining their trust, and then leading them to the Father.

Red Deer’s two churches joined efforts to share music ministry in four different locations, to assemble and distribute hygiene care packages to Red Deer’s unhoused population, to bake cookies and deliver them to first responders, as well as random acts of kindness (like distributing flowers, cards, and prayers) in Red Deer’s parks and malls.

Youth strings ensemble played at Villa Marie Covenant Care, Red Deer.

Makanaka Bvochara, a Red Deer youth, prepares hygiene packets at Epic Church to distribute among Red Deer's unhoused population.

It is better to give than to receive because the testimonies shared at the conclusion of the activities showed that the intergenerational support for youth and outreach brought many more hearts closer to Jesus. Several colleagues of Red Deer Church members took time to reach out after the Sabbath to express how impressed they were with the service-minded connections made through outreach efforts that day. The seeds are now planted, and we pray that the believers in Red Deer will point seekers heavenward. Submitted by Katelyn Ruiz, Red

Submitted by Ina Martin, Edmonton Central